BriggsNetNews

January 26, 2024 – Today CDC posted new data that show the proportion of people hospitalized with flu this season in one CDC surveillance system who also have at least one chronic medical condition. Overall, among people hospitalized with flu, about 90% had a least one chronic medical condition. This is consistent with historical data. Annual flu vaccination…… Continue reading People with Chronic Medical Conditions Continue to Account for The Majority of Flu Hospitalizations This Season

National Activity Professionals Week – January 22 – 26, 2024 Activity Professionals play an important role by providing engaging, life-enriching experiences for nursing home residents.  They are key to your organization providing patient-centered care and improving overall quality of life. Be sure to take a moment to recognize and thank your Activities Professionals for all that…… Continue reading Every Smile Makes a Difference

The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.19.1 and Item Matrix are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The MDS Item Sets v1.19.1 will be effective beginning October 01, 2024.

Updated Guidance for Healthcare Providers on Increased Supply of Nirsevimab to Protect Young Children from Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during the 2023–2024 Respiratory Virus Season — On October 23, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory 499 to provide guidance for prioritization of nirsevimab given limited supply. Nirsevimab (Beyfortus, Sanofi and AstraZeneca)…… Continue reading Healthcare Quality and Worker Safety Information

It contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, and CMS locations and contacts. Click here to download. To ensure accurate formatting, use a current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF. Web-based or mobile browser plug-ins may affect how the file is displayed.

SummaryThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert healthcare providers to low vaccination rates against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Low vaccination rates, coupled with ongoing increases in national and international respiratory disease activity caused by multiple pathogens, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2…… Continue reading Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and Use of Authorized/Approved Therapeutics in the Setting of Increased Respiratory Disease Activity During the 2023 – 2024 Winter Season

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a video tutorial to assist providers with guidance application and assessment strategies for C1310. Signs and Symptoms of Delirium taken from the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM©). This video tutorial is approximately 14 minutes in length and is designed to provide targeted guidance for accurate coding…… Continue reading NEW RESOURCE AVAILABLE: Confusion Assessment Method (CAM©) Video Tutorial

In response to active exploitation of a cybersecurity vulnerability, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center has released the attached notice strongly encouraging organizations to upgrade their devices and prevent further damage to the health sector. Please make sure the attached message is seen and acted upon by the appropriate…… Continue reading Message from HHS about an ongoing active cybersecurity threat to your IT resources

The flu vaccine reduces the risk of illness, and flu-related hospitalization.National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is an opportunity to remind everyone that there is still time to benefit from the first and most important action in preventing flu illness and potentially serious flu complications: get a flu vaccine today. Check out CDC’s NIVW toolkit for more shareable resources…… Continue reading The first week of December is National Influenza Vaccination & Hand Washing Awareness Weeks